Melbourne weekend hitlist August 29-30: Steak and the city, grilled cheese and Japanese pub food
Discover ...
Attention cheese fiends. If you feel a gravitational pull towards Prahran this weekend, this is why. Cheese boss Anthony Femia, the guy who tended the wheels and threw the fondue parties at Spring Street Grocer, has come out of the cave and opened his own raclette and grilled cheese cart. The menu is concise: you can get a double hitter all-American grilled cheese sandwich starring Monterey Jack and Cabot cheddar, or raclette cheese melted under a special lamp and scraped over a stack of confit potatoes.
Thu-Sat 8am-5pm; Sun 10am-3pm; Prahran Market, 163 Commercial Road, South Yarra, makerandmonger.com.au
Eat ...
Entrecote is not a restaurant, it's a lifestyle. It involves knocking back Mumm, oysters and steak frites and pretending you're in Paris. Melbourne said yes to that concept and said it loudly, and so now you can get your fix in the CBD, on the old Prix Fixe site. Expect just as much sirloin, "secret sauce" and Champagne, plus a whole lot of seafood.
6 Alfred Place, Melbourne CBD, 9654 8184, entrecote.com.au
Drink ...
The Gasometer is following the path of Carlton's John Curtin – which had Huxtaburger and Bluebonnet Barbecue do its food – and has leased out its kitchen. Adam Liston from Northern Light is in charge, with a beer friendly Japanese izakaya-style menu of karaage fried chicken, katsu sandwiches and things on sticks. It's Japanese, it's in a pub and that pub happens to be punching out some excellent shows on the side. What's not to like?
484 Smith Street, Collingwood, thegasometerhotel.com.au
Book ...
Mister Jennings creative sessions
Want to get up inside the brain of Ryan Flaherty, the chef who brought us frozen kangaroo carpaccio and a boudin blanc version of a dagwood dog? He's holding tasting menu classes from next month to teach punters how it's done. Your $145 ticket covers two nights: the first is a brainstorming session where you'll create a tasting menu as a group over pizza and beers. The second night will see you return to eat the menu you devised.
142 Bridge Road, Richmond, 9078 0113. Bookings: misterjennings.com.au
Brunch ...
Fairfield, your time has come. Ex-Industry Beans chef Erica Nelson is in the kitchen at Mr Wednesday, punching out a menu of gussied-up porridge with fresh cream and nut crumble, and a smashed avo featuring lemon myrtle. Not a chai porridge fan? There's a more dusty-Saturday-friendly brioche bun stuffed with bacon, egg and potato cake, or this jerk chicken burger (pictured).
144 Wingrove Street, Fairfield, mrwednesday.com.au
Cook ...
Tony Tan's recipe pretty much broke the internet this week. Here's why, and nine other Asian dishes you need to master.
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Gemima Cody is former chief restaurant critic for The Age and Good Food.